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Third Annual 'Paint The Park' Bloomfield Art Festival Today

Last updated on Saturday, June 9, 2012

(BLOOMFIELD) - Artists, artisans, events and music will fill the park today for the third annual “Paint the Park” Bloomfield Art Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sabrina Westfall, of the Greene County Daily World, reports artists from Greene County and southern Indiana will be selling and showcasing their arts and crafts. Vendor booths will include ceramics, paintings, baskets, jewelry and a variety of other artistic mediums.

"What we try to do is have the artist vendors demonstrate their crafts. One of the artists from Linton, Pat Woodall, does a variety of art forms, including textiles, painting and ceramics. She has often been working (on a piece of art) as she shows her things,"

Organizer Wyatt LeGrand explained about Woodall's participation in past Art Festivals.
LeGrand said the Bloomfield Art Festival is unlike most of its kind, due to the family friendly atmosphere offering more than just vendors selling their artwork.

There are plenty of activities for family members of all ages, food and musical entertainment.

One of the more popular events is the "Paint the Park" art competition, en plein air style.
Artists can bring their canvas or paper to be stamped between 8 and 10 a.m. at the Bloomfield Apple Festival booth. Entry fee is $5 for the adult division -- age 18 and over - and the teen division - age 13 to 17. Children 12 and under can enter the competition for free.

Artists have until 2 p.m. to paint a scene from anywhere in Greene County, Bloomfield or the park for a judging at 2:30 p.m.

"It's really fun because we do have quite a few people come. ... The kids love it because they get to have their artwork displayed with the adults' pieces," LeGrand said.

Prizes will include a $100 first prize, $50 second prize and $25 third prize for adults. The teen and children division winners will get an age appropriate pack of art supplies.

"This year I am expecting a larger turnout because I have been promoting it with a professional artist community," LeGrand added. "This is something people from all across the state travel to take part in."

Bloomfield Eastern Greene Public Library will be hosting children and teen artistic activities related to library programs, including a terra cotta pot painting.

The Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce will have a sidewalk chalk art contest.
Contestants of all ages can begin registering at 9:30 a.m. in the open shelterhouse.

Musical entertainment will consist of Entwyned's Celtic and bluegrass music from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.; Drew Haywood playing classical piano from 11 to 11:45 a.m.; Craig Brenner playing Boogie Woogie Piano from noon to 1:15 p.m.; and Kade Puckett's Fingerstyle Guitar from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

The Bloomfield Psi Iota Xi will be selling pork tenderloins and George Poe with Mansions in Heaven Church will be selling gyros.

"Since the Art Festival is in conjunction with the Apple Festival Committee, they will be down there helping and selling strawberry shortcakes," LeGrand added.
LeGrand said the Art Festival has continued to grow, noting he saw an increase in participation in its second year.

"It's been small, but it has grown," LeGrand said.

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